
MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY 
F. W. BESLEY, State Forester 



THE FORESTS 

-OF— 

FREDERICK COUNTY 

BY 

F. W. BESLEY, State Forester 




BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 
JANUARY, 1922 



MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY 

F. W. BESLEY, State Forester 

THE FORESTS 

—OF— 

FREDERICK COUNTY 

BY 

F. W. BESLEY, State Forester 



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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 
JANUARY, 1922 



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LIBnARY OF CONGRESS 

F^Baai922 

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STATE FORESTER'S OFFICE 

815 Calvert Building 
BALTIMORE 



F. W. BESLEY State Forester 

KARL E. PFEIFFER Assistant Forester 

JOSHUA A. COPE Assistant Forester 

SAMUEL CORBIN Assistant Forester 



NELLIE E. WHITCRAFT Secretary 

SARA M. REESE Clerk 




CONTENTS. 



rage. 

Iiitrorhiction 7 

Land Classification 7 

Distribution of the Forests 8 

Description of the Forests 10 

Commercial Types 11 

Native Forest Trees 11 

Important Timber Trees and Their Chief Uses 11 

Oaks 11 

White Oaks 14 

Red Oaks lo 

Chestnut 1,") 

Tulip Poplar IG 

The Lumber and Timiier Cut Hi 

Lumber Ki 

Railroad Ties 10 

Trolley Ties 17 

Poles 17 

Staves 17 

I'ulpwood 17 

Shingles 17 

Lath 17 

Cord wood 18 

Bark IS 

Home Use of Wood and Timlier IS 

Building JIaterial IS 

Fuel Wood IS 

Fence Rails lij 

Fence Posts 1!) 

Summai-y of Wood and Timber Cut for 1920 19 

The Wood Using Industries 120 



Page. 

Forest Protection 21 

Forest Fires 22 

Destructive Methods of Cutting 23 

Grazing 24 

Insects and Fungus Diseases 24 

Forest Management 25 

Forest Planting 27 

Trees for Forest Planting 28 

Black Locust 28 

White Pine 28 

Bed Oak 28 

White Ash 29 

Shade Trees 29 

Summarv 31 



The Forests of Frederick County 



IXTKODUCTION. 

The woodlands of Frederick Couuty were carefully studied a 
few years ago hy the State Board of Forestry for the purpose of 
obtaining accurate detailed information as to the character and 
composition of the forests, their distribution over the County, their 
chief uses, together with the amount of timber and wood products 
derived therefrom. All wooded areas of live acres or more in extent 
were carefully mapped and classified as to stand of timber. This 
information will be found on the large forest map on the inside 
cover at the back of this report, and to this the reader is referred 
for details. 

Frederick, the second largest county in the State, is essentially 
an agricultural county. The forests which cover 21 per cent, of the 
total area are very largely confined to the western mountain section, 
so that its forest resources are considerably centralized. The small 
percentage of woodland, coupled with the extensive demand for 
wood products, gives the forests of the County considerable promi- 
nence as a valuable resource. It is the purpose of this report to 
point out the importance of the forests and to indicate how they 
may be maintained in a highly productive condition to meet present 
and future needs. 

LAND CLASSIFICATION. 

Improved farm land 301,430 acres 70 per cent. 

Wooded area 91,117 acres 21 per cent. 

Waste land 40,583 acres 9 per cent. 



433,i:'>0 acres 100 per cent. 



8 The Forests of Frederick County. 

DISTRIBUTION OF THE FORESTS. 

The forest area comprises 21 per cent, of the total land area. 
Two-thirds of the wooded area is in the western half of the County, 
the remaining portion of the woodland is, for the most part, in small 
holdings on farms. Many farms have no woodland upon them, 
and the owners are therefore dependent upon their neighbors for 
wood, or, as in the case of farmers living just east of the Catoctin 
Mountains, many of them have small woodlots located in the moun- 
tain section, detached from their farm property. The Monocacy 
Valley, extending north and south through the central part of the 
Count.y, has the smallest percentage of woodland of any section. 
The Middletown Valley, along Catoctin Creek, in the southern and 
southwestern part, is also nearly destitute of woodland. In the 
western mountain section the woodlands are mostly in large con- 
tinuous areas, while in the eastern half of the County, along the 
gently rolling foothills, the woodlands are mainly in small, isol.ited 
holdings. Due to the general excellence of the soil for agricultural 
use, woodlands have been almost entirely cleared away from lands 
that can be cultivated, and are therefore conflned to the mountain 
ridges and slopes and to the thin soils of the rocky ridges and hill- 
sides on the farm area. 

The second district in which Frederick is located has less than 
20 acres of woodland out of a total acreage of more than 14,000, or 
little more than one tenth of 1 per cent., while in District No. 10, 
in the northwest section of the County, o7 per cent, is wooded. 
Xine of the 2() election districts are less than 10 per cent, wooded, 
while 5 are more than 40 per cent, wooded, showing the great varia- 
tion in forest distribution, due to the character of the soil. 

It is not likely that there will be any marked changes in forest 
distribution for many years to come because of the rather clear-cut 
distinction that now obtains between farm soils and forest soils. 



The Forests of Frederick County. 



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10 The Forests of Frederick County. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE FORESTS. 

Hardwood forests prevail throughout the Couuty. Pine, which 
is the only soft wood of note, is practically negligible, so far as the 
stand of timber is concerned. The only areas of consequence are 
those in the Catoctin Mountains, west of Thurmont, and here the 
pine is mixed with hardwood. The only pure stands are small 
patches near the Mouocacy River, scattered through the central 
part of the Couuty. A large number of different species of trees 
occur in the forest — the relative proportion of the different species 
forming rather distinctive forest types. These are somewhat clearly 
defined in the mountain section, such as chestnut oak, along the 
top and upper portion of the ridges. The chestnut type, along the 
upper slopes, is often mixed with scarlet and black oak. White oak, 
red oak, hickory and tulip poplar are the prevailing tree species on 
the lower slopes. 

The original character of the forest has been greatly changed 
under use and abuse, particularly as the result of frequent and 
destructive forest lires. Practically the entire forest area of the 
County has been cut-over. A considerable portion has been cut- 
over two or three titnes. At each cutting the more valuable species 
have been taken and often the undesirable species are left entirely, 
so that the relative proportion of the inferior species has conse- 
quently increased. Originally the mountain forests consisted of 
about 50 per cent, chestnut. The chestnut blight, a fungus disease 
attacking only the chestnut, reached this section of the State about 
1912, and has now practically destroyed the chestnut as an im- 
portant timber tree. Its place in the forest is being taken prin- 
cipally by the oaks, although where pure stands of chestnut 
occurred, which was over a considerable part of the area, replace- 
ment is a slow process. The fire damage in the mountains has been 
particularly severe, resulting in serious deterioration of the stands, 
not only causing a low timber production, but very greatly reducing 
the quality of the product. 

A large area of the forests in the vicinity of Catoctin Furnace 
was operated for more than 100 years prior to 1890 for the produc- 
tion of charcoal in supplying the iron furnace at that point. The 
furnaces required a continuous supply of wood, which was ob- 
tained by cutting clean each year a portion of the forest, cuming 



The Forests of Frederick County. 11 

back again for another cutting at intervals of from 25 to 35 years. 
This resulted in even aged sprout forests, coming up from the stumps, 
following cutting. Trees of the greatest sprouting capacity, such 
as chestnut and the oaks, thrive under this system, and where fires 
were kept out maximum wood production was maintained. It is 
interesting today to note the old charcoal beds and the wagon roads 
built for taking out the charcoal mauy years ago. The stone walls 
and other remains of the old Catoctin Furnace are still intact. 
Outside of the mountain areas, where the woodlands are somewhat 
isolated, fire damage has been slight, and as a result the woodlands 
are in better condition, although they have suffered much from 
destructive methods of cutting and from excessive grazing. 

COMMERCIAL TYPES. 

The foi'est survey of the County, made some years ago, resulted 
in the classification of the forests under certain commercial types, 
indicating the approximate stand of timber per acre. This is shown 
clearly on the forest map at the back of the report. 

Three classes of hardwoods are distinguished, first, the mer- 
chantable class, indicated on the map by the letter "M," which 
shows the areas xipon which there is a sufficient stand of saw timber 
to justify profitable logging operations. Second, the culled forests, 
indicated by the symbol "C." arc divided into three subclasses and 
indicate the areas from which most of the merchantable timber has 
been cut. but which still have small size material that is rapidly 
coming into the merchantable class. The third type, "hardwood 
saplings," indicated by the symbol "HS"' on the forest map, show 
areas containing a young growth of hardwoods still very small. 
The pine forests, which are found very sparingly, ai"e indicated by 
the symbol "S," while a combination of hardwood and pine is indi- 
cated by appropriate letters, the significance of which have already 
been explained. 

NATIVE FOREST TREES. 

There are 77 species of trees found in Frederick County. Prac- 
tically all are used in some way commercially, but there are some 
which are rather rare and do not have a commercial rating. A few 
merely I'each tree size and cannot be of any use except as firewood. 



12 The Forests of Frederick County. 

The following list contains species native to the County which 
reach tree size: 

Conifers. 

Common Name. Scientific Name. 

White Pine Pinus strobus 

Scrub Pine Pinus virginiana 

Pitch Pine Pinus rigida 

Table Mountain Pine Pinus pungens 

Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 

Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana 

Hardwoods. 

Common Name. Scientific Name. 

White Oak Quercus alba 

Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 

Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor 

Post Oak Quercus stellata 

Red Oak Quercus rubra 

Black Oak Quercus velutina 

Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea 

Pin Oak Quercus palustris 

Scrub Oak Quercus ilicifolia 

Overeup Oak Quercus lyrata 

Burr Oak Quercus macrocarpa 

Shingle Oak Quercus imbricaria 

Black Jack Oak Quercus marilandica 

Spanish Oak Quercus falcata 

Chinquapin Oak (Quercus prinoides 

Chestnut Castanea dentata 

Chinquapin Castanea pumila 

Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera 

Basswood Tilia americana 

Black Locust Robinia pseudacacia 

Mockernut Hickory Carya alba 

Pignut Hickory Carya glabra 

Shellbark Hickory Carya ovata 

Small Pignut Hickory Carya microcarpa 



The Forests of Frbdekick County. 13 

Common Name. Scientific Name. 

Big Shellbark Hickory Carya laciniosa 

Black Walnut Juglaus uigra 

Butternut Juglaus cinerea 

Red Maple Acer rubrum 

Black Maple Acer nigrum 

Sugar Maple Acer saccharum 

Mountain Maple Acer spicatum 

Box Elder Acer negundo 

Cucumber Tree Magnolia acuminata 

Umbrella Tree Magnolia tripetala 

White Ash Fraxinus americana 

Black Ash Fraxinus nigra 

Red Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica 

White Elm Ulmus americana 

Slippery Elm Ulmus fulva 

Red Gum Liquidambar styraclflua 

Wild Black Cherry Prunus serotina 

Fire Cherry Prunus pennsylvanicum 

Sycamore Platanus occidentalis 

Trembling Aspen Populus tremuloides 

Large Toothed Poplar Populus grandidentata 

Silver Poplar Populus alba 

Balsam Poplar Populus balsamifera 

Sour Gum Nyssa sylvatica 

Swamp Gum Nyssa biflora 

Red Mulberry Morus rubra 

Sassafras Sassafras sassafras 

Alder Alnus rugosa 

Paw Paw Asimina triloba 

Shadbush Amelanchier canadensis 

Black Birch Betula lenta ' 

yellow Birch Betula lutea 

Red Birch Betula nigra 

Blue Beech Carpinus caroliniana 

Hackberry Celtis occidentalis 

Red Bud Cercis canadensis 

Dogwood Cornus florida 

Cockspur Thorne Crataegus crus-galli 



14 The Forests of Frederick County. 

Common Name. Scientific Name. 

Persimmon Diospyrus virginiana 

Beech Fagus grandifolia 

Witch Hazel Hamamelis virginiana 

Hop Hornbeam Ostyra virginiana 

Mountain Ash Pyrus americana 

White Willow Walix alba 

Black Willow Salix nigra 

Staghorn Sumach Rhus typhina 

Introduced Trees That Have Beco'me Common in the Forest. 

Common Name. Scietitific Name. 

Honey Locust Gleditsia triachanthos 

Silver Maple Acer saccharinum 

Ailanthus AilanUius glandulosa 

Osage Orange Madura pomiferum 

Fringe Tree Ohionanthus virginica 

IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES AND THEIR CHIEF USES. 

Practically every species of tree in the County is used in some 
way, if only as fireyood on farms. Commercially, however, the num- 
ber of species that are sold are limited, although often, as in the case 
of the oaks, one recognized commercial species will include many 
different botannical species. The list following contains the most 
important commei'cial species in the Countj-. 

Oaks. — The species of oak are usually sold in two classes — the 
red and white oaks, of which the white is more important. Approxi- 
mately 65 per cent, of the cut of timber from the County is oak. 

White Oaks. — The white oak class of timber is one that pos- 
sesses strength and durability to a remarkable degree. The true 
white oak is unsurpassed, but there are several different species 
which are very similar to it and cannot be recognized except by 
experts. This fact leads to the grouping of the oaks on the market. 
This group includes, besides the true white oak. which forms 60 per 
cent, of what is cut, the chestnut oak, about 20 per cent., with the 
post oak and swamp white oak making up most of the remainder. 



The Forests of Frederick County. 15 

The wood of the white oak. because of its toughness and dTlra- 
bility, is especially adapted for use as a general construction timber. 
Much of it is cut for local use on farms. It is also very valuable 
as a railroad tie, as it can be used in contact with the ground with- 
out preservative treatment. It is exported for use as furniture 
wood, cooperage stock, car construction, framing, ties, and other 
uses. 

Red Oaks. — The red oaks are inferior to the white oaks only in 
being less durable. This quality, however, affects the sale price. 
This group will contain the true red oak, black oak, scarlet, and 
pin oaks, and others less common. The red oak itself is the equal 
of white oak in all but durability. 

The, red oaks are cut for general farm timbers in the County, 
but are not used to the extent that the white oak is. A great amount 
of red oak is cut into railroad or trolley ties. For this use, however, 
it is necessary that the wood be given a preservative treatment. Red 
oak is also in demand for general construction, car stock, planking, 
furniture, and interior finish. 

Chestnut. — This species of tree has been attacked by the chest- 
nut blight to such an extent that its future as a commercial tree in 
the County seems doomed. At present, because of the presence of 
the dead or dying trees, an effort is being made to utilize the wood 
before it becomes valueless. This has resulted in an increased pro- 
duction of chestnut products to such an extent that the cut is nearly 
equal to any other species cut in the County. The chestnut makes an 
admirable pole because of its durabilit}' in contact with the soil. 
This is also true when used as a tie, but because of its lightness and 
softness it cannot be used for heavy traffic. It, therefore, is cut 
largely for trolley ties and mine ties. There is some general saw 
lumber produced, mostly used locally on farms, as well as shingles 
used for the same purpose. In the County there is a special indus- 
try, that of making staves from chestnut. The staves are used 
largely in slack cooperage for lime and cement containers. A great 
many farmers are utilizing the dead chestnut of their woodlots 
for making fence rails and posts, but the sale of these is limited. The 
cut will fall oft' within a few years because of the exhaustion of the 
supply. 



16 The Fokestb of Frederick County. 

Tulip Poplar. — This wood enters but little in the production 
of lumber in the County, largely because of the absence of trees 
of saw log size. It does, however, make up the largest percentage 
of wood cut into pulpwood. 

THE LI MBER AND TIMBER CUT. 

The lumber ami timber business in Frederick County in 1920 
employed i).50 men for varying periods throughout the year. Of 
these, 250 were employed by the 47 sawmills, li of which were year- 
round operations, while 33 operated only a portion of the year. The 
remainder were employed in getting out special products, such as 
railroad and trolley ties, poles, staves, pulpwood, shingles, lath, 
cordwood. and bark. The lumber and timber cut of the County has 
fallen off about 20 per cent, in the last seven years. Under present 
conditions, it is reasonably certain the timber production must fall 
still lower, because of the depletion of the forests, notwithstanding 
a 100 per cent, increase in the price of timber products. 

Lumber. — The lumber cut consists almost entirely of hardwood, 
of which 05 per cent, is oak, 20 per cent, chestnut, and 15 per cent, 
miscellaneous, including tulip poplar, hickory and maple. Pine and 
hemlock represent less than 2 per cent, of the total cut. Chestnut 
constitutes a larger proportion of the output than does any other 
single species. It is mostly derived in the natui-e of salvage from 
trees which have been killed by chestnut blight. Each succeeding 
year, the proportion of chestnut will be considerably reduced, and 
the proportion of oaks increased, until the chestnut finally disap- 
pears as a commercial tree. 

Most of the timber is cut by portable mills, which operate only 
a short period during the year, making frequent moves as each 
tract is cut over. A few of the mills operate by water power, and 
do a small custom business. The lumber cut for 1920 was 5,99l),000 
Ijoard feet, valued at |209,8(j0 at the point of shipment. 

Railroad Ties. — The cutting of railroad ties constitutes one of 
the chief wood's operations. The high prices obtained has stimu- 
lated tie production, so that much timber that would ordinarily 
have gone into lumber is converted into sawed ties. The high cost 
of labor, and the wastefulness of the operation has nearly elimi- 




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PLATK 111. FIG. 2. — Chk.st.mt amj Oak Stavkwoih. ai ( 'vtuctin. 
The flitting of stnvc^ is ;in iniiMirtaiit iinUislry of Kndt'i-irU County. 



The Forests ok Fkkdeur'k Cot'nty. 17 

^nated hewn ties in favor of sawed ties. A considerable quantity of 
short boards are derived from the slab cuts. Chestnut, red oak. 
and white oak were the principal woods used. In all, there were 
16,32.5 railroad ties produced in 1920, which, at an average value of 
11.00, amounted to |1(5,325. 

Trolley Tie><. — The extensive mileage of trolley lines through 
Frederick County has produced a good local market for trolley ties. 
Thirty-eight thousand and ninety were sold in 1920 at an average of 
60 cents each, valued at ?22,854 delivered at the tracks. Probably 
75 per cent, of the trolley ties were chestnut. The remainder con- 
sisted of several different species, principally oak. 

Poles. — There was an unusually heavy output of chestnut poles 

■during 1920, amounting to 16,825, which, at a value of $5.00 each at 

shipping point, amounted to |81,125. The poles varied in length 

from 25 to 60 feet. For this purpose, the best specimens of trees 

that had not seriously deteriorated from chestnut blight were used. 

Staves. — The stave business in Frederick County is a compara 
tively recent enterprise, but there are now several operations under 
way. which in 1920 produced 13,800,000 staves, valued at $159,735. 
Staves are made from bolts which are cut in five-foot lengths in the 
woods, any hardwoods being used. The wood is sold by the cord, 
trees as small as five inches in diameter being used. The stave busi- 
ness furnishes an excellent means of utilizing small blight killed 
chestnut timber. 

Pulpwood. — The production of pulpwood is on the increase, as 
formerly very little was taken. The amount cut in 1920 was 1,748 
cords, valued at $20,976. This consisted mostly of poplar, with a 
small percentage of butternut. The bark is peeled and the wood cut 
into five-foot lengths and sold by the cord of 160 cubic feet. 

■ Shingles. — SmaU portable shingle mills cut 850,000 chestnut 
shingles in 1920, valued at $5,100, and used for the most part locally. 
Shingle wood is cut into short bolt lengths of 16 to 20 inches, blocks 
of 10 to 16 inches in diameter being preferred. 

Lath. — Lath are usually cut in connection with lumbering 
operations, using slab wood and other parts not suitable for lum 



18 The Forests of Frederick County. 

ber. Two hundred thousands, valued at $1,200, were produced in the 
County in 1920. 

Gordwood. — In the mountain sections, within easy hauling dis- 
tances of the towns, where it is used for fuel, and the lime kilns, 
where it is used in burning lime, a considerable quantity of cord- 
wood is cut each year. This consists, principally, of oak, although 
chestnut and other species were used to a considerable extent. The 
amount cut and sold in 1920 was 4,590 cords, valued at $22,950. This 
was in addition to the amount of wood cut and used by woodland 
owners. 

Bark. — A small tannery at Frederick, and larger tanneries at 
Westminster and Williamsport, to the east and west of the County, 
furnish a ready market for chestnut oak bark. The amount peeled 
and shipped in 1920, however, was relatively small, 200 cords, val- 
ued at $3,600, and most of it was consumed locally. Where stands 
containing a large quantity of chestnut oak are cut for lumber, or 
railroad ties, it is common practice to cut the trees in the spring 
when the sap is moving, so that bark can be readily peeled. 

HOME USE OF WOOD AND TIMBER. 

Frederick County consists of 3,817 farms, for the most part in 
a highly developed condition. A large quantity of wood and timber 
is required on the farms for building material, fuel wood and fenc- 
ing. This represents material cut from the forests and utilized for 
home needs, and is in addition to the amounts sold from the wood- 
lands. 

Building Material. — This is in addition to the sawed lumber 
which is included in the list above, and comjirises hewn timbers, or 
those used in the round for various home buildings, such as barn 
frames, stables, and other structures on the farm. The annual 
amount so used is estimated to average 500,000 cubic feet, valued: 
at $36,000. 

Fuel Wood. — Many farms use coal for fuel, but most use wood 
exclusively, or to a limited extent. This consists, in part, of deadi 
and down wood, but is mostly green, growing timber. The estir 
mated amount for 1920 was 15,500 cords, valued at $38,750. 



The Forests of Frederick County. 19 

Fence Rails. — The high cost of labor has brought about the sub- 
stitution of wire for rail fences, to a large extent. But there are 
many stock farms upon which the rail fence is preferred, and others 
where the abundance of chestnut, killed by the blight, has induced 
many farmers to salvage the material by working it up into fence 
rails. It is estimated that 000,000 rails were used in 1920, valued 
at ?3,G00. 

Fence Posts. — This includes the posts used for post-and-rail 
fences, and also those used for wire fences. Where locust is easily 
obtainable, it is preferred to all other woods. The scarcity of locust 
and the large amount of chestnut available for the purpose has re- 
sulted in chestnut being used to a larger extent than locust. In all, 
165,000 posts were used in 1920, valued at |19,800. 

SUMMARY OF WOOD AND TIMBER CUT FOR 1920. 

The data collected in 1920 and enumerated above, shows that the 
total value of forest products cut from the forests of the County in 
1920, including that used ou the farms, amounted to |(;60,47iJ. This 
comprises 3,017,601 cubic feet cut and sold, while the amount used 
on farms and not sold constitutes 2,155,000 cubic feet, making a 
total of 5,172,601 cubic feet cut from the forests of the County in a 
single year. It is estimated from the most reliable data obtainable, 
that the annual growth in forests of the County is but 3.600,000 
cubic feet, showing that the annual cut from the forests each year 
is 44 per cent, more than the yearly growth. With the present de- 
pleted condition of the forests, the present timber cut cannot be 
maintained, and measures must be taken immediately to increase 
the growth, if the annual wood production is to be brought up to 
the amount consumed. 



:20 The Forests op Frederick County. 

FOREST PRODUCTS CUT AND SOLD, 1920. 

Value at 
Prodiict. Amount. Shipping Point. 

Lumber 5,996,000 bd. ft. |209,S60 

Railroad Ties 16,325 pieces 16,325 

Trolley Ties 38,090 pieces 22,854 

Poles 16,825 pieces 84,125 

Staves 13,890,000 pieces 159,735 

Pulpwood 1,748 cords 20,976 

Shingles 850,000 pieces 5,100 

Lath 200,000 pieces 1,200 

Cordwood 4,590 cords 22,950 

Bark 200 cords 3,600 



?546,725 



FOREST PRODUCTS CUT FOR HOME USE. 

Product. Amount. Value. 

Building Materials 500,000 cu. ft. |36,000 

Fuel Wood 15,500 cords 38,750 

Fence Rails 240,000 rails 19,200 

Fence Posts 165,000 posts 19,800 



fll3,750 



Total value of forest products for 1920, $660,475. 

WOOD-USING INDUSTRIES. 

A study of the wood-using industries of the State, made in 
1917, prior to the disturbance of industrial conditions, due to the 
war, brought out some interesting facts regarding the wood-using 
industries of Frederick County. 

While there are not many industries, it is shown that no less 
than sixteen different kinds of wood are used for the various 
purposes to the extent of more than 10,000,000 feet annually, re- 
sulting in a valuable output. Pine, beech and douglas fir are the 
most important woods used, and although Frederick has 21 per 
cent, in forest, practically none of the wood manufactured in Fred- 



The Forests of Frederick County. 



21 



erick City is locally produced. It is evident, however, that as out- 
side sources 'of supply are removed by exhaustion of their timber 
resources, as is taking place rapidly, the wood-using industries must 
be more and more sustained by raw material derived from local 
sources. 

Frederick City is well located for manufacturing of any kind, 
and brushes, cooperage and planing mill products, and to some 
extent, baskets, which are the chief output, enjoy an active de- 
mand, and are of much importance to City, County and State. 

Amount of Wood Used, Source and Cost 191G. 



Kind of Wood. 









as 



a 

'3 

o 






g . >> 

■ u o 
> a> CO 



-. . o 

sot 

o . a 



1. S. yellow pines 

2. Beech . 

3. Douglas fir. 

4. Cypress 

5. Sugar maple. 



6. Birch species.. 

7. E. white pine 

8. Chestnut 

9. Oak species 

10. Redwood 



11. Tulip poplar. 10,000 

12. W. white pine 

13. Kastern sprucel 

14. Hemlock 

15. Basswood 10,000 

16. Mahogany | 



3,000.000 

2,500,000 

2,000,000 

550,000 

500,000 

500,000 
350,000 
175,000 
110,000 
100,000 

50,000 
60,000 
40,000 
40,000 



3,000 



3,000,000 

2,500,000 

2,000,000 

550,000 

500,000 

500,000 
350,000 
175,000 
110,000 
100,000 

60,000 
60,000 
40,000 
40,000 
10,000 

3,000 



30 
25 
20 
5.4 



5 

3.5 
2 
1 
1 

.6 
.6 
,4 
.4 
.1 



$26.40 
21.50 
31.50 
39.82 
23.50 

21.00 
37.00 
43.33 
44.09 
45.50 

44.67 
65.00 
27.50 
25.00 
17.00 

200.00 



$8o,,sai 

53,750 
03,000 
21,900 
11,750 

10,500 

12,950 

7,563 

4,850 
4,550 

2,680 
3,900 
1,100 
1,000 
170 

600 



Totals I 20,000 |10,035,000| 3,000 110,058,000 



100 



$27.94 



$281,063 



POOREST PROTECTION. 



The woodlands of Frederick County are today producing less 
than half of a full timber crop, because of destructive agencies, 
which for more than 150 years have been operating in the forests. 
Chief among them are forest fires, destructive cutting methods, 
excessive grazing, and the ravages of insects and fungus diseases. 
At least three-fourths of this damage is preventable, and it is high 
time that all forest owners and users of the forest (which includes 



22 The Forests of Frederick County. 

every resident of the County) should co-operate to protect the for- 
est and to bring it up to its highest productive capacity. 

Forest Fires. — The forest fire damage in Frederick County is 
very much intensified by reason of the fact that the great bulk of 
the woods is in a continuous body along the mountains. These 
areas get very dry during the spring and fall, and forest fires, once 
started, gain rapid headway and are difficult to control. , 

The fire record for 1920, a year somewhat below normal, shows 
that 12 fires occurred during the year, burning over 598 acres, 
causing a direct damage of |1,906. It cost the State and County 
together $198 to extinguish the twelve fires, or an average of $16 
per fire. Of the twelve fires, five were caused by brush burning, 
two from wilful setting of fire, one from hunters, one from rail- 
I'oads. For the remaining three the causes were unknown. 

The State maintains a fire protective organization in the 
County, consisting of a number of forest wardens, forest patrol- 
men, and two lookout towers for quickly detecting forest fires. 
The locations, addresses and telephone numbers of the forest 
wardens, patrolmen and lookout watchmen, as corrected to De- 
cember 1, 1921, are given below. 

-Vamc. Location. Address. Telephone. 

i. W. Andrews Eyler VaUey Emmitsburg Call Emmitsburg 48 F 3 

Karl M. Bro«i; Foxville Lantz Smithsburg 37 F 4 

Earle Brown Lantz I.antz Smithsburg 37 F 4 

S. P. Bussard 1 mile S. W. Lantz.. Lantz Smithsburg 37 F 22 

Jamis Di lauter Sands Flat Smithsburg R. F. D.None 

A. J. Easterday Wolfsville Mycrsvillr- U 2 Myorsville 22 F 3 

E. B. Fi'aga Indian Springs i'ellow Springs Call FrediTiclc 855 F 4 

M. H. Frtshman Blue Mt. Siding Thurmont Thurmont 44 F 13 

A. L. Hauver Foxville Lantz Smithsburg 11 F 14 

Chas. E. Klein Braddoek Frederick Frederick 834 F 2 

L. T. Lewis Middlepoint Smithsburg R. F. D.Call Myersville 26 F 12 

Sylvestir Moss Mountaindale Frederick E. D. 6.. ..Frederick 830 F 31 

G. W. Ramsburg Lewistown Thurmont Box 177. .None 

G. A. Willard Catoctin Furnace Cr. Smithsburg Noue 

The forest wardens are regularly commissioned officers, with 
full authority to employ assistance, and use any means that may 
be necessary for controlling forest fires. Each landowner is re- 
quired to do all he can to control fires on his own lands, but where 
he is unable to do so, the local forest warden should be promptly 
notified, so that measures may be taken without delay for pre- 
venting the spread of the fire to other property, or causing unnec- 
essary damage on the property where it originated. Everyone 
should co-operate with the forest wardens in suppressing forest 



The Forests of Frederick County. 23 

■fires, which is the chief enemy of the forest. In Frederick County 
three-fourths of the fires are the result of carelessness, or deliber- 
ate intent to burn. It is only by enlisting the support of all 
woodland owners in fire protection that this public menace may 
be abated. 

Destructive Methods of Cutting. — It has been the practice 
for generations on the part of most woodland owners, to cut over 
their woodlands at frequent intervals, taking out the best and 
most saleable products, with little or no thought to the succeeding 
growth and future productiveness of the woodlands. This repeated 
cutting has resulted in forests of inferior value, made up of a large 
proportion of inferior species, and the defective and crippled trees 
have been left to take possession of the ground, to the exclusion 
of more valuable growth. This process is still going on with its 
resultant injury to the forest. A radical change in the method of 
handling the forest is necessary before increased production and 
improvement of quality are possible. The native species of trees 
in the County, and the conditions of growth, are excellent for 
timber production, if these natural conditions are only given a 
fair chance. To restore production it will be necessary to work 
for the reproduction in the forest of the more valuable species, the 
elimination of the crooked and defective trees and the species of 
less value. This can be accomplished by improvement cuttings, 
which while producing considerable revenue in low-grade material, 
will greatly improve the character and composition of the forests. 
The damage occasioned by surface fires, resulting in a large per- 
centage of fire scarred trees, which give no promise of valuable 
timber production, is accountable, in a large measure, for the low 
timber production. The removal of these fire damaged trees is 
essential to any improved system of management. 

Timber owners, who sell stumpage to timber buyers, often 
express their inability to control the operation in a way that will 
insure a good regrowth. It must be admitted that the owner of 
the land has it within his power to control any and all operations 
on his own land. It is simply a question of determining what the 
timber operator may do and what he may not do on the land of 
the owner. The State Forester has worked out a plan which limits 
the cutting to certain specified trees, or to trees up to a certain 



The Forests of Frederick County. 



1? 



24 

size with proper provision for protecting the young growth from, 
unnecTssary damage. This plan has been in practice for severa 
years with very satisfactory results, and is recommended to all 
th'eCho contemplate the selling of timber^ The plan is fully 
described in leaflet 18 of the State Board of Forestry. 

Grazing.-It is common practice among the farmers of the 
county to include the woodland in the permanent pasture. Th s 
^. paxticularly true in those sections of the County where the 
voodtnds are in small areas, such as the eastern and south- 
western portions. Pastured woodlands are never ^n the best con- 
dition for timber growth, because the soil becomes hard and dry 
? om the constant trampling of the cattle, the seed bed is destroyed 
and the growth of the trees seriously checked, if not altogether 
stooped Under these unfavorable conditions, the woodland be- 
comes open and very much understocked, due to the destruction 
of young growth and unfavorable conditions for the germination 
of seed This, if continued, will ultimately result in reducing 
timber production to a minimum. The small amount of pasture 
is poor pay for the loss in the production of timber. Since the 
woodland is usually on rocky ridges, or steep slopes with thm soi 
not suited for grass land, or farm land, pasturing, if permitted 
at all, should be so regulated as not to disturb the forest cover, 
which results in irreparable damage. 

Insects and Fungus Diseases. -There have been no serious 
insect attacks affecting the forest trees in recent years. Some 
years ago, and at intervals since that time, the black locust has 
suffered somewhat from the attacks of an insect, one of the leaf 
miners, which works between the epidermal layers of the leaf, 
eating away the leaf tissues and causing the leaf to turn a rusty 
brown This occurs usually in late summer, after the trees have 
made their principal growth of the season, so that the danger is 
not serious, although the discoloration and dropping of the leaves 
is rather alarming at the time. 

There has been more or less defoliation of trees by caterpillars, 
but usually the danger from this source in the forest is very slight, 
the chief damage being done to shade trees, and even there the 
natural enemies of such insects usually hold them in check. 

The most serious tree disease that has ever occurred in the 








I'LATE II. FUj. 1. — Fire Is thf W'ukst I''m:my oi.- tuk FnKKsr. 
All rxaiiinlr iif :i llii-il't.\ stand ul .vcniiii.' tiliitiir ihst mycii. 




I'l.ATK II. Fill. :;. — Thk CllKSl'M !■ Is ^^;utl.^ i.m.\k. 
Bli^lit-killeU chestnut in the Catoctins. 



The Forests of Fkedeiuck County. 25 

County, or in the State, is the chestnut blight (Eudothia parasitica), 
which attacks the inner bark and cambium wood of the tree, first 
appearing as a small canker which spreads horizontally, as well as 
vertically, until the portion of the tree attacked, whether it be a 
branch, or the trunk itself, is completely girdled and the circulation 
cut off. This causes the death of the tree beyond the girdle, and 
when a large number of these cankers appear on the same tree, it 
is certain death, although the complete death of the tree may not 
result for two or three years. While the disease is fully known and 
its method of attack fully ascertained, there is no known method 
of control. There appears to be no hope of saving the chestnut, the 
disease already having gone to the extent of killing, or seriously af- 
fecting, practically all the chestnut trees in the County. The loss is 
tremendous because of the fact that the chestnut in Frederick 
County constituted a larger porportion of the forest than any other 
single species, and, in addition, was probably the most useful tree of 
all, because of its adaptability to many purposes, its durability, and 
its special use for telephone and telegraph poles, for which there is 
no local substitute. The effect of the chestnut blight has hastened 
the cutting of the chestnut, in order to utilize it before it was com- 
pletely destroyed, and consequently, chestnut products reached a 
comparatively low price in relation to other .species. Now, with the 
chestnut nearly all gone, its value is much more appreciated, and 
higher prices will no doubt obtain in a very few years. The blight 
does not injure the wood for any uses, provided it is utilized before 
natural decay sets in. 

FOREST MANAGEMENT. 

The 91,000 acres of woodland in the County, constituting 21 per 
cent, of the total land area, is sufficient to supply all the timber 
needs, if it were fully productive. Natural conditions of growth are 
exceptionally good, and the species i-epresented in the forest are 
among the most valuable species growing in the State. There is a 
good demand for timber, with excellent transportation facilities 
and good markets. 

A study of the conditions in the County has shown that the 
products cut and sold from the forest lands amount to 3,017,600 
cubic feet annually, valued at §516,725, as based on 1920 production. 



26 The Forests of Frederick County. 

In addition to this, is the large amount of wood and timber cut and 
used on the farms and not offered for sale. This increases the cubic 
feet used by 2,695,000, valued at |113,750, making a total of 5,712,600 
cubic feet of wood and timber cut in the County, valued at $677,275 
for a single year. The forest products of the County are second only 
in value to those derived from agriculture. 

Wlien we turn, however, to the annual growth production of 
the forests, we find that, due to forest fires in the past, and to those 
annually recurring, together with destructive methods of cutting, 
excessive grazing and the ravages of the chestnut blight, the forest 
lands are producing on an average less than 40 cubic feet of wood 
per acre, per annum, whereas they should be producing at least 90 
cubic feet of wood per acre per annum. This high production can be 
secured and maintained on lands protected from lire, and properly 
managed. This, in short, is what forestry is seeking to accomplish. 

The destructive agencies enumerated above have been operating 
so long, and with such deadly effect, that it will take many years 
in the case of the badly abused woodland, to bring it back to full 
production. Certain steps will be required, and should be instituted 
without delay, in orderly fashion, to restore full productiveness. In 
the first place, the fire menace must be reduced to a minimum by 
carrying out the recommendation made in regard to forest fire pro- 
tection. Where open and unproductive places occur in the woodland 
they must be restocked so that every square foot of land will be 
productive. Whei'e the woodlands, due to past mismanagement, and 
the damage from fires, consist of a large proportion of fire scarred, 
or crooked and defective trees, or those of poor species, these must 
be eliminated, and replaced by good specimens of more valuable spe- 
cies. This process will ordinarily be a gradual one, rather than ac- 
complished in one operation. No two woodlands are exactly alike, 
and the treatment of each must be regulated to the conditions and 
purposes of management. It is better to have an examination made 
of the woodland by an expert, and a plan of management worked 
out on the ground calculated to give the best results.* 

The haphazard methods of cutting practiced in the past must 
give way to a cutting system that will keep the forests continuously 



*The State Forester, 815 Calvert Building, Baltimore, will, upon request, 
examine the woodlands of anyone and give advice as to the best system of 
handling them. 



The Forests of Frederick County. 27 

productive. Where timber is sold there should be a specific contract 
between the seller and the buyer as to just what trees may be cut 
and what trees are to be reserved by the owner. Timber is increas- 
ing so rapidly in value and the young immature growth, which must 
be preserved and protected for the next timber crop, is of high 
prospective value, a fact which should be fully recognized in making 
the timber contract. A plan that has been in successful operation 
for several years enables the forest owner to sell his timber for a 
good price, and at the same time protect the future productiveness 
of the woodland. It is outlined in leaflet 18, which may be had upon 
application. 

FOREST PLANTING. 

The forest survey of the County, made some years ago, showed 
that there were 40,583 acres of waste land, comprising J) per cent, 
of the total land area. This waste land comprises areas upon which 
there is no crop of value now growing. With the exception of a 
small percentage suitable for permanent pasture, most all of it is 
better adapted for timber growing than for any other purpose. 
Tinder present conditions, it is not coming back in timber growth, 
except very slowly, and must be planted in forest trees to secure 
its highest usefulness, and bring it back to immediate productive- 
ness. Some of this land represents rocky ledges, gullied hillsides, 
or swampy portions of the farms which would support a good tree 
growth, if planted in suitable species. Of the great variety of native 
trees indigenous to the County, species may be found suitable for 
any condition that exists, and profitable timber crops can be pro- 
duced on lands that are not productive for other purposes. Some of 
the farms in the valleys, upon which there is no timber, would be 
made more valuable by planting a small woodlot, which often can be 
located on the windward side of the farm house and barns, so as to 
give, in addition to a supply of wood for the farm, the added pro- 
tection of a windbreak — a valuable asset to any farm. Often the 
plantation may include species suitable for fence posts and other 
farm timbers, in addition to the use of the woodlot for fuel wood. 

Forest planting need not be confined to the waste lands on the 
farm, but frequently the existing woodland is very much under- 
stocked. There are open, unproductive areas on which the planting 
of trees, or of tree seeds, is needed in order to insure full production. 



28 The Forests of Frederick County. 

For this purpose, it is necessary to use such species of trees as will 
grow uuder the shade of other trees, like the white pine, Norway 
spruce, oaks and sugar maple. 

TREES FOR FOREST PLANTING. 

Black locuat (Robinia pseudacacia), also called yellow locust, 
or simply "locust," is a native tree of rapid growth, producing a 
heavy, hard, durable wood, highly prized for fence posts, aud for 
this purpose exceeds in value any other species. It casts so little 
shade that grass and weeds will grow under the trees and compete 
for moisture and soil fertility. For this reason, and also because of 
possible attack from the locust borer, it is advised to plant with 
some other species of somewhat slower growth, that will endure 
shade, and at the same time more completely shade the ground, such 
as white pine, or red oak. The trees should be spaced 6x6 feet in 
alternate rows, with a row of white pine or red oak, whichever is 
used in the mixture, on the outside of the plantation. On good soils 
the locust will grow 2-4 feet in height each year. Fence posts will 
be produced in about 15-20 j-ears, leaving the other species to pro- 
duce a timber crop some years later. One-year-old locust seedlings 
should generally be used for establishing the plantation. On open 
land no previous preparation of the soil is necessary for the plant- 
ing. 

White p'utc (Pinus strobus) is a native tree growing naturally 
in the mountain section, but it is adapted for planting in most any 
section of the County. It is a rapid growing tree, averaging from 
one to two feet in height each year, aud produces a soft, even-grained 
wood, useful for many pui'poses. It will produce saw timber in 30 
or 40 years on good soil. It should be planted, ordinarily, in pure 
stands 6x6 feet apart, and small trees from 4-6 inches in height may 
be used. 

Red oak (Quercus rubra) is one of the most valuable hardwoods 
for forest planting. It is a native tree, the most rapid growing of 
the oaks, producing a heavy, hard, strong wood, very useful on the 
farm for general construction purposes and for fuel wood. The red 
oak is fairly tolerant of shade, and therefore useful for underplant- 
iug in woodlands in need of reinforcement. The best method of 



The Forests of Frederick County. 29 

propagation is by planting the seeds, two in each hole, where the 
trees are needed, afterward thinning to one tree. In establishing a 
plantation, a spacing of 'jx') feet is recommended when seed is used, 
and (ixO feet when seedlings are planted. One-year-old seedlings are 
sufficiently large for forest planting. Red oak should not be planted 
on thin, dry soil. 

White ash (Fraxinus americaua) is a tree of rapid growth on 
rich, moist soil, producing a wood of high value. It is especially 
adapted for planting on bottom lauds, subject to overflow, which 
would render them unfit for agricultural crops, and may be planted 
in a pure stand, using one-year seedlings, spacing them GxG feet. 
The wood is very heavy, elastic, tough, and straight grained. It 
is generally used in the manufacture of agricultural implements, 
tool handles, sporting goods and vehicles, and is saleable in small 
size bolts, which can be grown on a comparatively short rotation. 

SHADE TREES. 

While the care and protection of shade trees is not generally 
associated with forestry, in Maryland the public shade tree work 
is handled by the State Board of Forestry, under what is generally 
known as "The Roadside Tree Law," Chapter 824, Acts of 1!J14. The 
Board of Forestry conducts a shade tree department which gives 
advice and prepares plans for planting and care of trees on the home 
grounds, along the roadsides, and in other public places. 

The planting and care of shade and ornamental trees on the 
home grounds is of the highest importance in increasing comfort and 
attractiveness. The iilanting of windbreaks, already alluded to, is 
one of the most important measures for protecting the home and 
other farm buildings, and in sheltering the live stock from the ex- 
cessive sweep of the winter winds. For this purpose there should 
be two or three rows of evergreen trees planted on the windward 
side of the buildings. The best species for the purpose is Norway 
spruce or white pine. If the former is used, they should be planted 
in rows 10 feet apart, and the trees planted 8 feet apart in the rows. 
If white pine is used, the spacing should be 10 feet apart in the 
rows, so as to allow more normal development of the trees. 

In the planting of the home grounds, there is a wide selection 



30 The Forests of Frederick County. 

of trees to draw upon, sufficient to satisfy every taste and every re- 
quirement. 

There are two things to remember in home planting: 

First, do not plant trees too close to the house. They must be 
given sufficient room to grow without crowding, and it is always 
best to have plenty of air space around the building. 

Second, in selecting the trees for planting, look for permanent 
results. The most rapid growing trees are often the least desirable 
when fully grown, and likely to deteriorate rapidly after maturity, 
when they are the most needed. To this class belong the Carolina 
poplar, silver poplar, willow and ailanthus, and to a somewhat lesser 
extent, silver maple and red maple. Among the best trees to plant 
are the American elm, sugar maple, sycamore maple, red oak, white 
pine, Norway spruce, oriental plane, gingko and white ash. 

The State Board of Forestry, 815 Calvert Building, Baltimore, 
maintains a State Forest Nursery from which trees suitable for for- 
est and roadside planting are furnished at cost. A State nursery 
list is obtainable upon request. 



The Forests of Frederick County. :{1 



FREDERICK COUNTY REPORT 



SUMMARY. 

The forest area of Frederick County is 91,117 acres, which is 
21 per cent, of the total land area— an amount sufficient to supply 
all of the wood and timber needs if it were in a highly productive 
condition. 

The forest lands are producing, on an average, a growth of 
less than 10 cubic feet of wood per acre per annum, whereas a full 
yield should be not less than 90 cubic feet of wood growth per acre 
per annum. The present low production of less than one-half of 
average maximum yields for the County, is due to damage from 
forest fires, destructive cutting methods, effects of grazing and the 
chestnut blight. 

Forest products cut and sold in 1920 amounted to $546,725, 
while the value of wood and timber cut for home use was $118,750, 
making a total value of $600,475. A total of 5,172,600 cubic feet 
of wood was required. 

There are 77 different species of trees native to the County, 
of which the larger number are of commercial importance. 

Protection of the forests from tire is the greatest immediate 
need. Much has been accomplished by the local forest wardens in 
reducing fire damage, but more care and closer co-operation of wood- 
land owners and forest users is necessary to prevent tires. Three- 
fourths of the fires are caused by carelessness or deliberate intent 
to destroy. 

The chestnut blight, in ten years, has killed nearly all of the 
chestnut trees, and forced on the market immense quantities of 
chestnut timber of small size, in the nature of salvage. 

There are 40,583 acres of waste laud in the County, upon which 
no crop of value is being produced. Practically all of it is capable 



32 The Forests of Frederick County. 

of growing timber, and a large part of it should be planted in forest 
trees to secure its highest productive use. 

Improved methods of forest management, with adequate fire 
protection, will increase forest yields more than 100 per cent., and 
with increasing timber prices, the corresponding yield value increase 
may easily reach 300 per cent. 




LIBRRRY OF CONGRESS 



001 739 517 8 



' 



I 



mi 



